B-
New England Patriots
A solid, sensible weekend for the Patriots: B-.
by Jon-Luke B ·
2025 NFL Draft
· 9 picks
· 4 steals
· 4 reaches
Call it belief, call it a gut call, but Joey Slackman at Round 7, Pick 25 is 38 spots clear of consensus, and that is the headline. A dependable weekend that grades out a B-.
However the rest shakes out, Moore at that price is a win they earned. That edge rusher hole did not close this weekend, and it was the biggest one on the wall.
Job largely done: wide receiver settled and 6 of 8 of the wish list covered. The trenches got the money picks, top to bottom.
All told, a solid class that does its job everywhere but edge rusher.
Pick-by-Pick
In the 4th overall pick they get protection for the quarterback, reach and all. A clean fit for the roster.
Value with a capital V on Jalon Walker in pick 38, a genuine coup. A minor need, but a need all the same.
They reached into another round for Tez Johnson, and the board is nowhere close to agreeing. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Fair-plus on Gunnar Helm, a quiet win that adds up over a draft. The roster fit checks out.
They will replay Malachi Moore at slot 105 for years; that is how good the value is. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
A top-tier running back at a bargain, Cam Skattebo in pick No. 143, plain and simple. A need, and now a little less of one.
A real head-scratcher, Will Lee III in pick 217 is miles ahead of his ranking. Not urgent, but hardly pointless.
Seth McLaughlin is a better player than pick No. 220 suggests; smart patience, rewarded. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
Joey Slackman at the Round 7 slot is the kind of overdraft that needs everything to break right. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.